Mess-free sand play device

ABSTRACT

A mess-free sand play device is disclosed herein. The mess-free sand play device in accordance with aspects herein has a tray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter of the planar base. A quantity of loose, granular sand and a moveable device or internal stylus are enclosed within the tray and a cover, the cover having a clear or transparent window through which the loose, granular sand and the moveable device or internal stylus are visible. The moveable device or internal stylus has a foam tip and a magnetic top, which allows for it to be manipulated with an external stylus having a magnetic tip. The foam tip of the moveable device or internal stylus, when pulled through the layer of loose, granular sand, forms a path in the layer of loose, granular sand, the path forming a desired pattern in the layer of loose, granular sand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/349,969 entitled “MESS-FREE SAND PLAY DEVICE,” filed Jun. 14, 2016,having Attorney Docket Number HALC.246839, the entire contents of whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure are defined by the claims below, not thissummary. A high-level overview of various features are provided here forthat reason, to provide an overview of the disclosure, and to introducea selection of concepts that are further described in the detaileddescription section below. This summary is not intended to identify keyfeatures or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

This disclosure describes, among other things, devices and methods forsand play. In particular, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to amess-free sand play device including an apparatus for containing apredefined amount of loose, granular sand in a completely sealedcontainer. The apparatus for enclosing loose, granular sand comprises atray having a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeterof the planar base and a cover coupled to the tray to seal the loose,granular sand within a cavity formed by the coupled tray and cover. Thecover may be constructed with a clear window so that the loose, granularsand and the tray are visible through the clear window. Alternatively,the entire cover and/or tray may be clear or transparent so that allinternal features of the mess-free sand play device are made visiblefrom above, and/or other angles of the mess-free sand play device.

In a further aspect herein, in addition to the loose, granular sand, amoveable device or internal stylus is located within the cavity enclosedby the tray and the cover. The moveable device or internal stylus isconfigured to form temporary patterns in the loose, granular sand whendragged through the loose, granular sand by an external stylus locatedoutside of the cavity. In some aspects, the moveable device or internalstylus comprises a foam tip and a magnet, wherein the foam tip and themagnet may be secured within a housing. The housing securing the foamtip and the magnet may include a feature for securing the foam tip inrelation to the magnet, such as a rod fitted through the foam tip tosecure the foam tip to the housing and a magnet housing cavityconfigured to enclose one or more magnets within the magnet housingcavity. The housing may be constructed in multiple parts that can befitted together and/or welded together once the foam tip and the one ormore magnets are secured into place, or the housing may be manufacturedin a single piece over the one or more magnets with a mechanism tosecure the foam tip. In some aspects, the moveable device or internalstylus includes a marking end, such as the foam tip that generatesmarkings in the loose sand, and a directing end, such as the magneticend of the internal stylus that is manipulated by an external source toprovide translation of the internal stylus inside the cavity and withrespect to the tray.

Further, the magnets of the moveable device or internal stylus mayadditionally be enveloped by a soft, non-conducting material such as aninherently anti-static fabric or a material treated with an anti-staticcoating. Alternatively, the one or more magnets may be covered by, forexample, with a looped textile material such as the one used in ahook-and-loop fastening system. The moveable device or internal stylusmay be configured to stand in a generally upright position, with thefoam tip pointing downward and in contact with the loose, granular sand,and with the one or more magnets opposite the foam tip, pointing upwardand near the cover and/or the clear window. As such, the internal stylusmay have a minimum height that corresponds to the height of the cavity,thus orienting the internal stylus with the marking end adjacent thetray and the magnetic end adjacent the cover.

The loose, granular sand may be any moveable and/or deformable materialenclosed within the cavity and responsive to force applied by themoveable device or internal stylus, such as a loose material havingproperties of that from fine to coarse sand. Additionally, the color ofthe loose, granular sand may be natural, white, black, blue, purple,pink, or any other color available. In accordance with aspects herein,the sand may, for example, be coarse white sand that reflects at least aportion of light to which the sand is exposed. In some aspects, thegranular sand may be any particulate and/or granular medium that ismoveable by the internal stylus, and in response to movement by themarking end (i.e., foam tip) of the internal stylus, may be shiftedaround on the surface of the tray. In some aspects, the “markings” onthe tray are generated based on a revealed portion of the tray surface,such as a blue tray surface that is covered by white sand, once thewhite sand is pushed away along a travel path of the internal stylus,and the revealed blue tray portions become a visible, “hand-drawn”design.

In accordance with aspects herein, a lighting component such as a colorlight fixture may be provided within the mess-free sand play device. Thelighting component may be strategically placed above the loose, granularsand to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand and an interiorsurface of the tray. As such, a user's markings within the cavity andinto at least a portion of the loose, granular sand using the internalstylus may provide a different light pattern than the surrounding sand,thereby illuminating the remaining sand around the sand drawing. Thelighting component may be configured to cycle through at least one lightcolor at a time. The lighting component may be configured to cyclethrough a particular number of light colors, such as, for example, threevisible light colors, six visible light colors, nine visible lightcolors, twelve visible light colors, fifteen visible light colors,eighteen visible light colors, twenty-four visible light colors,thirty-six visible light colors, forty eight visible light colors, onehundred visible light colors, etc. The visible light colors of thelighting component may be configured to cycle automatically through anumber of color light patterns at a predefined time interval, or may beconfigured to cycle manually via a switch provided on an exteriorsurface of the mess-free sand play device. An advantage of having loose,granular white sand in the mess-free sand play device is that whencolored light is shone on the loose, granular white sand, the white sandis able to reflect the true color of the colored light, making at leasta portion of the white sand appear to be the color of the light shoneonto it.

In accordance to further aspects herein, the lighting component of themess-free sand play device may be battery operated and/or electricityoperated via an electric plug. At least one battery may be securelystowed away within the cavity for safety. The at least one batteryrequired may be disposable or rechargeable. In the event that the atleast one battery is rechargeable, the at least one battery may be madeinaccessible or accessible with safety precautions. Further, the atleast one battery may be allowed to charge within the mess-free sandplay device when the mess-free sand play device is plugged into anelectrical outlet.

The quantity of loose, granular sand contained within the mess-free sandplay device may be dependent on the dimensions of the mess-free sandplay device. For example, enough loose, granular sand to cover aninterior surface of the tray at a particular depth when the loose,granular sand is evenly spread out, without weighing down the mess-freesand play device, may be provided. For example, if determined that 0.5grams of loose, granular sand per square centimeter (area) of theinterior surface of the tray be provided to achieve good coverage, inthe event that the total area of the interior, planar surface of thetray is measured to be 25 cm×15 cm=375 cm², this would requireapproximately 187.5 grams of loose, granular sand. Additionally, it canbe appreciated that the amount of loose, granular sand needed may alsobe affected by the loose, granular sand coarseness, and as such, theamount of loose, granular sand may be determined based on the propertiesof the sand and/or the dimensions of the mess-free sand play device.Another factor that may affect an amount of loose, granular sand neededmay include, for example, a weight limit for the mess-free sand playdevice. For example, depending on a target age group, the dimensions ofthe mess-free sand play device and the weight limitations of themess-free sand play device may be changed.

Moving on to features that are external to the mess-free sand playdevice, the mess-free sand play device may comprise a magneticstylus/external stylus configured to engage with the moveable device orinternal stylus that resides within the mess-free sand play device. Asdescribed above, the moveable device or internal stylus within themess-free sand play device comprises a magnetic top. The externalmagnetic stylus comprises a magnetic tip configured to interact with theinternal stylus for manipulating a location of the internal styluswithin the cavity. The markings imprinted in the sand by the internalstylus may therefore be directed by the movement of the externalmagnetic stylus manipulating the internal stylus. Based on fluid motionof the internal stylus within the cavity, multidirectional translationof the internal stylus may be facilitated by the external magneticstylus, thereby “dragging” the internal stylus to one of a number oflocations within the mess free sand play device.

The magnetic tip of the external magnetic stylus may be inaccessible toa user, such as by being secured internally to the external magneticstylus by one or more mechanisms, for safety and aesthetics.Additionally, the external magnetic stylus may be made in any desiredshape, such as, for example, an elongated cylinder like a pen, a spherelike a rounded ball, or a pear-shape having a tapering end, with themagnet being located at the tapering end. The pear-shape may be, forexample, an ergonomic shape configured to comfortably fit within thehand and fingers of an operator or user. In particular, depending on theage of the target user, the size of the target user, and the targetuser's motor ability, the stylus may be made smaller or bigger. Forexample, the pear-shaped stylus may be configured to comfortably fitwithin the hand of an eighteen month or older toddler, a twenty-fourmonth or older toddler, a toddler between the ages two and five, etc.

The mess-free sand play device may further comprise a magnetic storagebase for storage of the magnetic external stylus when the magneticexternal stylus is not in use. In aspects, the magnets used in themoveable device or internal stylus, the magnetic external stylus, andthe magnetic storage base are permanent magnets with distinct North andSouth poles. These magnets may be made as disks, sheets, or any shapeconfigured to be safely retained within their intended locations. Themagnets may be made of any type of magnetizable material such as metal.Further, where one feature of the sand play device may include a magnetcomponent, the corresponding feature that interacts with such featuremay include a metallic component to which the magnetic component isattracted. The magnets in accordance with aspects herein may be strongenough to attract each other through one or more layers of material,wherein the layers of material may comprise, for example, fabric,plastic, polycarbonate, tempered glass, etc. The magnets may be furtherstrong enough to pull each other even when an air gap is present betweenthem. For example, an amount of space between the internal stylus andthe external stylus may be impacted by a material thickness, fabricthickness, base thickness, window thickness, air-gap thickness, and thelike, without interrupting the drawing capabilities inside the sand ofthe sand play device.

As such, the mess-free sand play device, in accordance with aspectsherein, allows for creative sand play and sand doodling by providing acompletely enclosed amount of loose, granular sand and a moveable deviceor internal stylus within the enclosure of a mess-free sand play device,wherein the moveable device or internal stylus is able to be manipulatedvia an external magnetic stylus, and wherein the magnetic stylus isconfigured to pull the moveable device or internal stylus at will,within the confinements of the cavity of the mess-free sand play device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail belowwith reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top, perspective view of a mess-free sand play device inaccordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 2A is a top, perspective view of the mess-free sand play device ofFIG. 1, with the tether removed from view, in a rest/store position inaccordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 2B is a top, perspective view of the mess-free sand play device ofFIG. 1, with the tether removed from view, in an active/use position inaccordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through theline 3-3 in FIG. 2B in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of various components of an exemplary stylusin accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of various components of an exemplarymoveable device or internal stylus in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 5B is a side, perspective view of an alternative covering for themagnet in the moveable device or internal stylus in accordance withaspects herein;

FIG. 6 is a side, perspective view of the stylus and the moveable deviceor internal stylus showing their interaction, in accordance with aspectsherein; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through theline 7-7 in FIG. 6 in accordance with aspects herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is describedwith specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But thedescription itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofclaims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in otherways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereofsimilar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction withother present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted asimplying any particular order among or between various steps hereindisclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps isexplicitly described.

Devices and methods are described herein for mess-free sand play. Inparticular, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a deviceincluding a tray coupled to a cover enclosing a predetermined amount ofnon-magnetic loose, granular sand and at least a moveable device orinternal stylus. The moveable device or internal stylus comprises aclosed cell foam tip and a magnetic top. The moveable device or internalstylus is movable through the sand via an external stylus comprising amagnetic tip. The magnetic top of the moveable device or internal stylusand the magnetic tip of the external stylus are configured to attracteach other so that the moveable device or internal stylus is able to bedragged through the loose, granular sand within the confines of themess-free sand play device. As the moveable device or internal stylus ismoved around through the sand, the moveable device or internal stylus isconfigured to leave a track in the sand, behind its travel path.

In a further aspect, the mess-free sand play device further comprises atleast one lighting component configured to expose the enclosed sand toan amount of light, such as a color lighting component configured toshine a colored light onto the loose, granular sand so that the loose,granular sand appears illuminated and/or colored, such as having theappearance of the color of light shone onto it. In some aspects, thelighting component dispenses light into the cavity in a particulardirection, such as at an angle towards the surface of the enclosed sand.The lighting component may be battery operated and/or electricityoperated, and may further be configured to include multiple visiblecolors. In accordance with aspects herein, a switch may be provided tomanually and/or automatically cycle through the multiple visible colorsof the lighting component. By illuminating the sand surrounding a paththat is cleared of sand by the internal stylus, the areas of displacedsand and revealed tray are emphasized markings surrounded by the litsand within an enclosed drawing environment, in aspects of theinvention.

With reference now to the figures, a mess-free sand play device isdescribed in accordance with aspects herein. Various aspects aredescribed with respect to the figures in which like elements aredepicted with like reference numerals.

With reference to FIGS. 1-7, an exemplary mess-free sand play device 100is shown. In FIG. 1, the exemplary mess-free sand play device 100includes a tray 12 coupled to a cover 14 with a clear window 16, forminga cavity 94. The tray 12 comprises an upstanding wall rising from aperimeter of tray 12, the upstanding wall comprising a wall interior 18and a wall exterior 44. There is also optionally provided at least onelighting component 20 located within the cavity 94 near a top end of theupstanding wall, above the loose, granular sand level, to reflect lightonto the loose, granular sand 46. The at least one lighting component 20may be, for example, an LED lighting component comprising one or morevisible colors. The at least one lighting component 20 may, for example,comprise three visible colors, six visible colors, ten visible colors,twelve visible colors, twenty-four visible colors, or any number ofvisible colors desired. When more than one lighting component 20 isprovided, each lighting component 20 may operate simultaneously with theother, shining the same color at the same time, or simultaneously withthe other, shining different visible colors at the same time to form newvisible colors by virtue of the mixing of the reflection of the shonelight visible colors. The visible colors of the light may beautomatically changed and/or may be manually changed by actuating aswitch 40, also provided on an exterior surface of the mess-free sandplay device 100.

The mess-free sand play device 100 may further comprise a moveabledevice or internal stylus 28. The moveable device or internal stylus 28may comprise a foam tip 30 and a magnet encased within magnet housing32. As shown in FIG. 1, the moveable device or internal stylus 28, theloose, granular sand 46, and the lighting component 20 may all beenclosed within tray 12 and cover 14. Further, although not shown, themoveable device or internal stylus 28 may further include a magnet 52(shown in FIGS. 5A-5B and FIG. 7) within a dock 24 and internal to thecover 14. Furthermore, the mess-free sand play device 100 may comprisean external stylus 26 with a magnetic tip 42. The external stylus 26 maybe optionally tethered to the mess-free sand play device 100 via tether22, which is attached to the mess-free sand play device 100 at a firsttether outlet 36, and which is attached to the external stylus 26 at asecond tether outlet 34. When not in use, the dock 24 is configured toreceive the external stylus 26, and if magnetized, the dock 24 isconfigured to securely hold the external stylus 26 in place and guide auser to the storage location by magnetically pulling the external stylus26 into the dock 24 when the external stylus 26 is in the vicinity ofthe dock 24. Additionally, the mess-free sand play device 100 may bedesigned to comprise a carrying handle 38, which may be ergonomicallyshaped to be easily carried by, for example, a small toddler.

Moving on to FIG. 2A, a perspective view of the mess-free sand playdevice 100 of FIG. 1, with the tether 22 removed from view, includes amess-free sand play device 100 in a rest/store position in accordancewith aspects herein. As it can be observed from FIG. 2A, the externalstylus 26 is configured to fit within the dock 24. Further, it can beobserved that the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is configured toremain in a generally upright position within the cavity 94, with thefoam tip 30 pointing downward toward the tray 12 and the magnet withinmagnet housing 32 pointing upward toward the clear window 16. Asdescribed above, the magnet inside the magnet housing 32 may be coveredby a soft material such as a woven or non-woven fabric to provide abuffer between the magnet and the interior surface of clear window 16and thereby prevent scratching of the interior surface of clear window16 as the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is moved around.

FIG. 2B shows a perspective view of the mess-free sand play device 100of FIG. 2A, in an active/use position in accordance with aspects herein.As it can be observed in FIG. 2B, the external stylus 26 magneticallyengages with moveable device or internal stylus 28 and is configured topull moveable device or internal stylus 28 through the loose, granularsand 46 within the confines of the cavity 94. As the moveable device orinternal stylus 28 is moved through the loose, granular sand 46, thefoam tip 30 forms a path 10 in the spread out loose, granular sand 46.In accordance with aspects herein, the path 10 comprises a path ofexposed tray void of sand. When light is shone onto the path 10, thepath of exposed tray void of sand appears darker in appearance thanparts of the path covered by the loose, granular sand 46. The path 10may be easily removed from the sand by gently shaking the mess-free sandplay device 100 to redistribute the loose, granular sand 46. Onceshaken, the mess-free sand play device 100 is reset and again ready forforming new paths 10 in the loose, granular sand 46. In accordance withaspects herein, the loose, granular sand 46 comprises a non-magneticmaterial.

Moving on to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the planepassing through the line 3-3 in FIG. 2B in accordance with aspectsherein. As it can be clearly observed from FIG. 3, foam tip 30 ofmoveable device or internal stylus 28 may not be perfectly perpendicularto the planar surface of tray 12, but rather, it is slightly angled,deviating between about 1 and 10 degrees from perpendicular. Thisslightly angled configuration for the foam tip 30 may allow the moveabledevice or internal stylus 28 to easily glide through the loose, granularsand 46 and be less prone to getting stuck or caught within the cavity94, thereby making the process of doodling in the loose, granular sand46 a smooth process. Further, the angled configuration of the foam tip30 allows for the loose, granular sand 46 to fall back into the path 10at an inward angle, as the foam tip 30 is pulled through the loose,granular sand 46, thereby creating the impression of outlines for thepath 10.

As it can be further observed from FIG. 3, the lighting component 20 maybe located near the top of the mess-free sand play device 100, such asnear the cover 14. This configuration allows, in some aspects, for thelighting component 20 to be above the level of the loose, granular sand46 to reflect light onto the loose, granular sand 46. As describedabove, the at least one lighting component 20 may be battery and/orelectricity operated. For example, lighting component 20 may be poweredby battery 80. In FIG. 3, for example, three lighting components 20 aredepicted. The lighting component 20 is located along an internalperimeter of the mess-free sand play device 100 in order to preventobstruction of the clear window 16. The lighting component 20 may beevenly distributed on one or more sides, or all sides, of the mess-freesand play device 100 to allow for a uniform distribution of light on thesurface of the loose, granular sand 46. As further submitted above, thelighting component 20 may be an LED lighting component 20 configured tochange visible colors manually on demand via a switch 40, orautomatically cycle through the different visible colors when thelighting component 20 is turned on. In a different aspect, the clearwindow 16, itself, may comprise a lighting component 20 configured tochange into different visible colors manually or automatically. Itshould be understood that the lighting component 20 may be madeavailable to enhance the play experience with the mess-free sand playdevice 100; however, it is not necessary for its operation.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of various components of an exemplaryexternal stylus 26 in accordance with aspects herein. The externalstylus 26 may take any suitable shape for a comfortable fit for anintended user's hands. FIG. 4, for example, shows external stylus 26having a pear-shaped handle 70. The handle 70 is configured to securelyenclose different components such as a magnet 58 inside the handle 70.For example, the external stylus 26 may comprise at least a tip housing62, a magnet 58, a woven or non-woven fabric covering 60, and aretaining collar 64. In accordance with aspects herein, the pear-shapedhandle 70 may be formed as a single piece or, in the alternative, in twoor more pieces. This may also be true for the tip housing 62 and theretaining collar 64. When formed in two or more pieces, once the piecesare fitted together, the different respective pieces for the individualcomponents may be glued together and/or heated or ultrasonically weldedtogether. As an additional added safety feature, the pear-shaped handle70 may further comprise one or more screw anchors 56 to further hold oneor more pieces of the pear-shaped handle 70 together. The pear-shapedhandle 70, the tip housing 62, the magnet 58, the fabric covering 60,and the retaining collar 64 may be configured to tightly fit togetheras, for example, puzzle pieces, as further shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 5A is an exploded view of various components of an exemplarymoveable device or internal stylus 28, in accordance with aspectsherein. As described above, moveable device or internal stylus 28comprises a foam tip 30. The foam tip 30 may be secured to a magnethousing 32, the magnet housing 32 comprising at least a magnet 52secured within a case 54, woven or non-woven fabric or textile covering48, and a retaining collar 50. As can be observed from FIG. 5A, the foamtip 30 may comprise an opening 98 configured to fit a rod 96 of case 54,thereby immobilizing the foam tip 30. The case 54 may further comprise acavity 72 configured to fit one or more magnets 52 and an unexposedportion of the foam tip 30. As such, the internal stylus 28 maygenerally include a foam tip 30 opposite a magnet 52 within a housingdevice that maintains the internal stylus 28 in a generally uprightposition within the cavity 94.

In accordance with aspects herein, the case 54 may be manufactured froma hard plastic, wood, or metal material, and the retaining collar 50 maybe manufactured from a rubber, plastic, wood, or metal material. Forexample, these parts may be manufactured from a polycarbonate plasticmaterial, or other material configured to secure a foam feature, amagnetic feature, and the like. The foam tip 30 may be manufactured froma closed cell foam material, or any other material configured todisperse sand along a path within the cavity 94. Further, the magnet 52may be a permanent magnet. As shown, the magnet 52 may be disc shaped;alternatively, the magnet 52 may be square shaped, triangle shaped, orshaped in any suitable form to fit within cavity 72 of case 54,depending on the shape of case 54. The foam tip 30 of the moveabledevice or internal stylus 28, in accordance with aspects herein, maycomprise a closed cell foam structure having a height that is less thanor equal to a height 96 of the cavity 94 of the exemplary mess-free sandplay device 100, wherein the height 96 of the cavity 94 is measured froman interior surface 97 of the tray 12 to an interior surface 98 of thecover 14.

FIG. 5B shows an alternative material for textile covering 48 formoveable device or internal stylus 28. For example, the textile covering48 for moveable device or internal stylus 28 may comprise an unevensurface, such as shown, with a plurality of loops 90, like the loops 90shown on FIG. 5B. The uneven surface of the textile covering 48 may bedesirable to prevent sand granules from becoming trapped between theinterior surface of clear window 16 and the top surface 92 of textilecovering 48. This is because if sand granules were to become trappedbetween top surface 92 and the interior surface of clear window 16, thetrapped sand granules may potentially scratch the interior surface ofclear window 16 when the moveable device or internal stylus 28 is movedacross the clear window 16, thereby causing the mess-free sand playdevice to become unsightly, and causing the view through clear window 16to be inhibited. With the plurality of loops 90, the moveable device orinternal stylus 28 is allowed to remain compressed against the clearwindow 16, while any trapped sand granules are allowed to fall throughthe loops 90 and back to tray 12 as the moveable device or internalstylus 28 is pulled through the loose, granular sand 46.

FIG. 6 is a side, perspective view of the external stylus 26 and themoveable device or internal stylus 28 showing their interaction, inaccordance with aspects herein. As seen from FIG. 6, when the magnetictip 42 of the external stylus 26 and the top surface 92 of the moveabledevice or internal stylus 28 are aligned with each other, the magnet ofthe magnetic tip 42 is configured to be attracted to the top surface 92of moveable device or internal stylus 28 via the magnet located withinmagnet housing 32. This attraction allows for the manipulation ofmoveable device or internal stylus 28 via the external stylus 26 whenthey are provided as part of the mess-free sand play device 100.Additionally, as discussed above, all components of external stylus 26may be glued together, ultrasonically and/or heat bonded, and for addedsafety, one or more screws 68 may be provided at one or more screwanchors 56 to ensure that the external stylus 26 does not open and fallapart, even in the event that the glued on part, or heat orultrasonically welded parts, fail. The one or more screw anchors 56 maybe recessed from the surface of the external stylus 26 so that thescrews 68 are hidden from view and not readily exposed.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the plane passing through theline 7-7 in FIG. 6 in accordance with aspects herein. In FIG. 7, it canbe readily observed how the different components of external stylus 26and the different components of moveable device or internal stylus 28are securely fitted together.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the scopeof the claims below. Aspects of the technology have been described withthe intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternativeexamples will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after andbecause of reading it. Alternative means of implementing theaforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of theclaims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinationsand are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A sand play device comprising: a trayhaving a planar base and an upstanding wall rising from a perimeter ofthe planar base; a quantity of loose, granular sand; a cover coupled tothe tray to provide a cavity between the tray and the cover, said cavityconfigured to secure the quantity of loose, granular sand within thecavity, wherein the cover comprises a clear window; a moveable deviceinside the cavity, said moveable device comprising a foam tip and amagnet covered with a protective material layer, said moveable deviceconfigured to form a path through at least a portion of the quantity ofloose, granular sand when the moveable device is moved within thecavity; and a magnetic stylus.
 2. The sand play device of claim 1,wherein a size of each grain of sand within the quantity of loose,granular sand is between 125 um and 1 mm in diameter.
 3. The sand playdevice of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of one or more of the trayand the cover comprise polycarbonate.
 4. The sand play device of claim1, further comprising at least one lighting component coupled to atleast a portion of the sand play device above the quantity of loose,granular sand.
 5. The sand play device of claim 4, wherein the lightingcomponent comprises color-changing lights.
 6. The sand play device ofclaim 5, wherein the color changing lights are configured to changevisible colors automatically or manually via a light switch.
 7. The sandplay device of claim 1, wherein the foam tip comprises a closed cellfoam structure having a height that is less than or equal to a height ofthe cavity, wherein the height of the cavity is measured from aninterior surface of the tray to an interior surface of the cover.
 8. Thesand play device of claim 1, wherein the moveable device is configuredto stay in an upright position with the protective material layercovering the magnet, said magnet being in direct contact with aninterior surface of the clear window.
 9. The sand play device of claim1, wherein the stylus comprises a magnetic tip that, when positionednear an outer surface of the clear window, attracts the magnet of themoveable device such that the stylus is configured to manipulate themoveable device.
 10. The sand play device of claim 1, wherein the stylusis tethered to the sand play device.
 11. A sand drawing apparatus havingan internal magnetic stylus and an external magnetic stylus, said sanddrawing apparatus comprising: a housing having an internal cavityconfigured to enclose sand and a transparent window for viewing theinternal cavity and the enclosed sand; an internal magnetic styluscomprising: (1) a magnetic top; and (2) a foam tip opposite the magnetictop; and an external magnetic stylus comprising: (1) a magnetic tipcomprising: (a) a magnet within a magnet housing; (b) a fabric coveringover at least a portion of the magnet; and (c) a collar configured tofit over at least a portion of the magnet housing and the fabriccovering to secure the fabric covering with respect to the magnethousing; and (2) a handle configured to enclose at least a portion ofthe magnetic tip.
 12. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe handle comprises at least one curved surface for manipulation by auser.
 13. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the magnetictip and the handle are ultrasonically welded to each other.
 14. The sanddrawing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the handle further comprises atleast one screw that further secures the magnetic tip enclosed in thehandle.
 15. The sand drawing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the magnetictip of the external magnetic stylus is configured to manipulate theinternal magnetic stylus to provide at least one marking in the enclosedsand of the internal cavity.
 16. A mess-free sand play devicecomprising: a tray having a planar base and at least one upstanding wallrising from a perimeter of the planar base; a clear cover parallel tothe planar base and configured to fit over the tray at a thresholddistance from the tray to seal a cavity between the tray and the clearcover; a quantity of loose, granular sand contained within the cavity;and a movable device inside the cavity, said moveable device comprisinga foam tip at a first end of the moveable device, said foam tip adjacentthe planar base, and a magnet covered with a protective material layerat a second end of the moveable device opposite the first end, saidmagnet adjacent the clear cover, wherein the moveable device isconfigured to form a path through at least a portion of the quantity ofloose, granular sand when the moveable device is moved within the trayin response to at least one magnetic source external to the cavity. 17.The mess-free sand play device of claim 16, wherein the at least onemagnetic source comprises a magnetic stylus tethered to the sand playdevice, said magnetic stylus configured to couple to the mess-free sandplay device.
 18. The mess-free sand play device of claim 17, wherein themagnetic stylus comprises at least one ergonomic feature, said at leastone ergonomic feature comprising an external shape configured to fitwithin a hand of a user.
 19. The mess-free sand play device of claim 16,further comprising a lighting component enclosed within the cavity. 20.The mess-free sand play device of claim 19, wherein the lightingcomponent is configured to shine light having one or more visible colorsonto an upper surface of the tray such that the loose, granular sandresting on the planar base is illuminated and a path of exposed trayvoid of sand is darker in appearance than a path of tray covered by theloose, granular sand.